Corroborative Statements.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 271, 9 March 1889, Page 2

Corroborative Statements.

REPORTERS WHO DID NOT GKT • OFFICIAL’’ INFORMATION. Scbjoixed we give the account, of the Te Kooti arrest, as written by the special reporters of the N. Z. Herald and Auckland Star :— [V Z HERALD.] Shortly after ten o'olook I obaervad an nn. usual gathering of the Ngatiporous and N'ga. tai., who saddled up and went out of town in a very unostentatious manner. At bait-past twelve 1 noticed that the Gisborne Hussar, appeared to be active in catching their horses, so I started enquiries, and found that it wai reported that Te Kooti had been seen in tbe Waiotahi Valley, and that tbe Hua.ara and police had been ordered out to oaptur. him, I need .oaroely «ay that without waiting for dinner, I had my horse saddled, a fln. spirited animal, by the way, and bv thia tim. I observed the Ngatiporou. and Hussars, and a detachment of mounted polioe, making ready to march out. I fell in with them, and about a mile outside the town I found the Auckland contingent stationed by th. side of the road. Passing on, we forded the Huntress Creek easily, the tide being low, and a smart gallop across the sandv beach brought us to the mouth of the Waiotahi River, and here we found a guide awaiting us, and were informed that Inspector Goodall and a conetable were galloping post haste ahead of us. We hurried up the winding path along the bank of the river for six or seven miles, and here a Maori and subsequently Wi Pere met Mrjor Porter. As the result of what passed bit ween them the troops were halted, and strict orders wr- a given that no Europeans, police or other, w were to bs allowed to pass. I suppose it was my look of astonishment and consternation which touched the heart of the gallant major, for he told me cheerily that I could ooms along, and kindly explained to some half adozen natives who hid by this time freely gathered, that I was a harmless body, only a newspaper man. The major and I then accompanied the natives already alluded to X to the settlement of Waiotahi. It is an ordinary Maori settlement of aome eight or nine huts, situated on a terrace adjacent to the left bink of the river, and betwean the terrace and the river is a lower level, which had a swampy appearance, but whioh at present is quite hard. On riding through the settlement we found no appearance of unusual excitement, but without taking much notice we followed Wi Pere’s lead to where we found Te Kooti. He was seated on a flax mat in a structure under a large poplar tree, against which branches of the poplar were placnd, forming quite a pretty leafy screen. Two of his wi es were with him, and a crowd of about 60 Maoris, men, women, and children were squatted around him. Inspector Goodall and Constables Law and Kavannah were present in ths immediate vicinity, and immediately on our arrival M<jor Porter took a seat near Te Kooti, and a conversation began between the Major, the Inspector, and Te Kooti, whioh was conducted in the Maori anguage and in a low tone of voice, and as either was a sufficient obstacle to my obtaining much information from that source, I took a view of the surroundings. Te Kooti looked quite picturesque as he squatted in state on a splendid mat. He was dresee 1 in tweed trousers and vest, of a dark brown striped with narrow green bars. He hid on a calico print shirt which _ was open in front, and wore a floe herd’s plaid shawl round his shouldera|M( - gathered round his knees. I enquired bf the constables as to wh it had taken plane, and le irned that they had acquired information which is said to have come through a woman, at all events it led Inspector Goodall to despatch Conitables Law and Kavannah to the Waiotahi settlement, where they found Te Kooti, whp seemed neither surprised nor angry to see them, and they were treated to z ripe plums and peaches. Te Kooti asked A them if they were going with him to Waikato, and if they had come to escort him, to see that he fulfilled his promise of return* ing to Waikato. They informed him that they had no such intention; and Law, leaving Kavanagh on a hill overlooking the settlement, from which he could watch and see if any movement was made by Te Kooti, he galloped into town, and informed Inspector Goodall, who at once saw Major Porter, and I ascertained that the immediate result was the despatch of the Nga'iporou and Ngatai contingent, to which I have alread alluied. These ware under the guidance of Sergeant Cahill, and made a detour round the Hikutaia hill on to the head of the Waiotahi, and ware out of view until they were almost on the settlement. Inspector Goodall, on bis arrival before us, asked Te Kooti to go with him, and he asked for what reason should he go. The Inspector told him that it was the wish of the Government that he should accompany him to Opotiki, but Te Kooti flatly refused, and said he would go nowhere but home, and that he would go there to-morrow. While I was hurriedly gleaning these details, the " korero " was going on. Major Porter, who is a Maori linguist, anil who was joined by Mr Gannon, of Gisborne, also a Maori scholar, tried to persuade the old fellnw to submit, but he continued to refuse. Wi Pere an<) other speakers urged that as Te Kooti was carrying out the wish of tbe Government In returning to Waikato, there was no reason for arresting him. After a long kartro. To Kooti asked that he might be allowed to remain in the settlement until to morrow, in order to give him time to telegraph to the Government, and greatly to my astonishment Mijor Porter urged the acceptance of this offer on Inspector Goodall, and even went sq far as to urge that, for political reasons, the .1 Government would be anxious that the offer should be accepted. Inspector Goodall promptly refused to be a party to such a business, and just then tbe Ngatiporou. and Ngatais filed iu from the hills to the flat in front of the settlement, and halted within about 50 yards of where we were grouped. The Inspector, seeing hie euppor a arrive. at once asserted himself, and said that he had come out to arrest Te Kooti on a warrant and bring him into Opotiki, and now that he had support behind him he would do it. He produced the warrant, whioh Mr Gannon examined,and turning to Major Porter hs said “ This only requires him to bring Te Kool' before a Justice c! the Peaca. You are F

and can deal with the matter.” “ Yes,” said Inspector Goodall, “ but there is no Court Bitting here, and I also am a J.P., so there A would be a balance, and as I have the power also the balance would be in mv favour. Seeing that the Inspector was determined on executing the warrant, the Major and Wi Pere told Te Kooti that there was noth ing for him to do but submit, and he assented, and he went into one of the huts to prepare for his journey. The Major then gave orders to the native troops to march away on the route to meet the other troops, and they were obeying the orders, when the Inspector asked the Major whether he was going to desert him, and leave him with only four police to bring his prisoner out of that mob, and he at once went and ordered the men to return. This they did, and the Major was very angry indeed, and hot words passed between the two officers, Mr Goodall insisting that the troops should remain, and march behind the prisoner and police. Major Porter told him he had no right to interfere with his division, and asked him what he was afraid of, as he himself was remaining with him. The Inspector Insisted, and finally Te Kooti settled the difficulty by coming out and mounting the horse prepared for him. He was at once surrounded I y the police, and was accompanied by Wi Pere. The troops then marched back to Opotiki, arriving about half-past six o’clock, after a fast march, and Te Kooti was lodged in custody. [AUCKLAND STAB.] About noon the trumpets and bugles again sounded the warning, and the various troops were in due time on the parade ground. Some of the Pe. manent Artillery and Naval Volunteers, under command of Captain Morrison, remained as a sort of outlying picket to check any inconvenient movement on the o! the Te Kooti men who were still deM in the township. Major Porter had control of the forces, consisting V East Coast Hussars and Ngatiporou, and Inspector Goodall commanded a small body of police, and had with mm the majesty of the law in the shape of a warrant for Te Kooti’s arrest. The object and destination 01 the expedition were at onoe known, and excitement again was at fever heat. The advancing force, all mounted, trod briskly along the beach until the Waio'.aht was reached, and there they turned inland along the bank of the river. Nothing of consefluence occurred on the line of march, and at about three o’clock Major Porter and Inspector Goodall, with two of the police entered Te Waou’s pa, and were face to face with Te Kooti. Major Porter greeted his old enemy in a most friendly manner, rubbing noses in true Maori style. The Inspector was anxious to make the arrest at oner, but the Major in obedience to the wishes of Te Kooti, desired to inform the Premier before taking decisive steps. An unfortunate conflict of authority now took place between the the two officers, and high words were used by both gentlemen. An excited conversation was carried on for some time, the Major arguing that the arrest Should be deferred, while the Inspector was determined to make a prisoner of Te Kooti Without further parley. The Hussars had been baited, and were 1> ing concealed in the Bomb about a mile from the pa, while the Ngatiporou made a detonr, getting io re -r of the position so as to cut off the fugitive s retreat if necessary. Te Kooti was surrounded by about ivu of his followers. In the face of such a body, it was deemed wise not to attempt to arrest. The Ngatiporou now opportunely arrived. Inspector Goodall decided to carry out his object and enforce his warrant. This intention was again resisted by Major

Porter. The friendly natives were ordered by the former officer to assist him in enforcing the law, while from the latter they received orders to go back. The Ngatiporou evidently considered it a labor of love to carry ax' . out the Inspector’s orders, and finally w.th their aid, Te Kooti was at last made a

prisoner. The expeditionary force now set out on their homeward journey, the prisoner, who was mounted, being carefully guarded by police, Hussars and natives. News of the capture bad reached the town- , ship long before the cavalcade made its appearance, aud the inhabitants were out en maue to ree the captive being marched in. The Muon women set up a wail as be was escorted to the cells. Three of his wives were allowed to take up their quarters with him. A strong guard was mounted and the notorious Te Kooti a free man since his escape from the Chatham Islands was once more safe under look and key.